INTERVIEW WITH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC
© Harriet Meyer
INTERVIEW WITH PEDRO FROM INTERNATIONAL MUSIC
-by Kata Anna Tüz (Curator / Online Shop Manager)
Es war sehr leise, jetzt wird’s laut! | It was very quiet, now it's getting loud!
For all the music lovers who feel a bit lost in these times of cancelled events - there is still time to dream, even if it’s a duck’s dream! Maybe concerts are part of a (hopefully not too) far off future, but new music still makes its way through to us. Besides the excitement of an upcoming gig you’ve waited for so long for, the thrill of listening to an album for the very first time is pretty much as tingly and delightful. For this reason, Improper Dose took the challenge to make an interview in English with the German band International Music and asked them to share a bit about their everyday life over the past year and the upcoming album Ententraum (transl.: a duckling's dream).
Who is International Music? What inspires/motivates you?
We are a three-piece-band (Peter Rubel, Pedro Goncalves-Crescenti and Joel Roters) from Essen, Germany. I think, as simple as it may sound, we find our motivation from within, and from music itself.
Although you're called International Music, you sing (mostly) in German. This makes your songs super authentic - but what makes International Music international?
This question is really hard to answer - I wonder, what doesn't make International Music international?
The lockdown situation has affected the cultural sector enormously. Artists and people working in the cultural field had to be very creative to keep things going. Did you start any new/alternative projects with the band or on top of the band which you maybe would not have planned without the lockdown?
From a positive perspective, we did have more time to work on the album. In a way, we were lucky that we had planned a little time off to do that anyway, so we didn't have to improvise too much. We spent and still spend a lot of time rehearsing and hanging out. We're very lucky to have each other. But, as for anyone else, the longer this situation goes on, the more psychologically and emotionally draining it becomes. We’re looking forward so much to playing live again, and being on the road. Ordering a cold beer in a crowded bar, ha, the joy! The excitement!
It has been a very long year without having the sweaty, crowded concert experience we all used to know and love. Did you have any gigs in alternative forms in 2020 and how did you experience them?
We did experiment a little with live streaming. However, we do feel that we as a rock band thrive on the energy of live concerts, the immediacy of action and reaction, and therefore struggle with streamed sessions or even seated concerts. We did it, and it was interesting in a way, but it does not compare to playing live. We would rather use the time to write and record, reflecting on it now.
© Harriet Meyer
The past year also bore some fruits for you, literally: a slightly rotten fruit decorates the cover of your new album Ententraum (transl.: a duckling's dream), which will be released in April 2021. We could already listen to one song, Insel der Verlassenheit (transl.: Island of desolation). What is the song about? Can you tell us some secrets about the lyrics?
Generally, we are hesitant to talk about a song's meaning. It’s much more interesting to see and hear about the individual experiences and meanings that our songs may invoke in anyone, and we fear to destroy the delicate intimacy that unfolds between music and the listener. Ideally, music and lyrics work together in a symbiotic bond. Let me tell you this: for me, playing that song, I feel a new beginning, a sort of starting something new, mentally, determination, and a playful wonder for everything that comes with it, that lies behind and waits ahead. Now, for anyone, personally, this can mean totally different things, specifically, and that's okay. That's wonderful!
© Harriet Meyer
One thing we can tell you already for sure - the album is filled with gems - a lot of gems! International Music invites you to philosophize, think about the meaning of a word and further about the meaning of the combination of words. The album seduces and takes you into a surreal dream where you can add your own part to the story. That’s the beauty of poetry; it doesn’t tell you what to think, it just leads you to unfold your own interpretation. This stimulus is what makes life beautiful in times like these and makes you keep on dreaming.
Der Klang der Welt ist mir vertraut. | The sound of the world is familiar to me.
Pre-order album here (release date 23. April)
Thanks for the interview and pictures to International Music - especially Pedro, and Staatsakt.
Ententraum is produced by Olaf O.P.A.L; label and distribution: Staatsakt.